"I wonder what I look like in your eyes."

Kalinda's POV

Last year, I switched to cross country since soccer wasn't the same without Sydney. With it being senior year a steady ache beat in my chest from her absence.

My thoughts were interrupted by the growl of a motorcycle engine that pulled into the parking lot. I watched in disbelief as Sydney removes her helmet, changes, and scans over the crowd before walking over to me and giving me a big hug.

"I missed you, Kal," she said as she pulled back, "Sorry I couldn't see you as soon as I returned. There were a lot of issues that needed taking care of."

She looked so different. Her once frizzy curls now spilled down her back, her skin was clear, glasses and braces gone, and when she smiled I was almost blinded by her teeth.

From what I could see, the tally marks that tattooed her left arm stopped just below her elbow, and a full sleeve graced her right arm. And geez was she toned. Her body rivaled that of an Olympic athlete—her shoulders had widened with muscle, legs looked like she could run for days, and the outline of abs showed through her fitted tank top. She'd even lost weight from her face as her cheekbones never looked better. She now possessed a jawline sharp enough to cut concrete. I was proud of her since Syd had always been self-conscious about her weight, especially in her stomach and face.

But that wasn't what had initially caught caught my attention. Scars marred her otherwise flawless skin. A scar ran down the left side of her face from her temple, skating across her cheek, and stopping an inch before the corner of her mouth. I noticed other scars on her exposed skin—lines of varying sizes and lengths trailing across her body, round patches of discoloration, and areas of puckered skin. And despite her sudden return and drastic change, I couldn't stifle the smile that stretched on my face and the elation that filled my stomach at Syd's return.

"I don't care about all that. I just can't believe you're back!"

The look of worry in her eyes was replaced with a small smile. I just threw an arm around her as we walked to the field to warm up.

After dynamic warmup and a few laps, most of the team began to strip out of their shirts. The boys took off on their run while the coach kept the girls to discuss some summer running clinics. Soon we set off.

I tried to keep up with Sydney, but oh my God. She was a few strides ahead of Harper and Maria, the best girls on the team. Honestly though, I was just trying not to pass out and at least stay with the group. The first few practices always suck. Being behind her I noticed more keloid scars. They were worse on her back. And towards the bottom of her back along her spine was another tattoo. From what I could see, it looked like a grim reaper.

When I had finished my three mile loop, I returned to the field. She offered me a Gatorade, whichever flavor was the white one—my favorite, without a word and I gladly accepted as I caught my breath. Most of the guys and the best girls were stretching and drinking water. While most of us were drenched in sweat and desperately struggling for air, Sydney seemed unbothered. Meaning not only was she in very good shape, but she finished far ahead of the others giving her enough time to catch her breath.

"Dang, Syd. When d'ya become a marathon runner?" I teased, "I didn't realize. Never should've bothered showing up."

She chuckled as she rolled up from some insane stretch while I sagged against the fence, chugging me water and trying to slow my heart rate. I just kept staring at her, scared if I blinked for too long she'd disappear.

"There wasn't much to do while I was gone except school and workout." She shrugged before completely folding in half to stretch her hamstrings and calves. I got a better look at her the grim reaper. It was a hyper-realistic, hauntingly beautiful image inked into her skin. Then I noticed a smaller tattoo on the back of her neck. A set of small, black Roman numerals reading: II/XI - VI/XXVI. I wanted so bad to ask about her tattoos and scars, but instead I focused on what was important—her return.

"And when did you get so flexible...did you get busy with anyone while you were gone?" I poked her toned legs teasingly even though I was dying to ask her a million questions about her time gone, to catch up, to learn about every change that happened in her life. We had both changed during those two and a half years she'd been gone. I wanted to meet the new her and be just as good of friends as before.

She stayed in her stretch for a few more seconds before slowly sitting up and looking at me with a smirk, "Lots of working out. Besides I was doing it for you, babe."

We chuckled like the time apart never happened and stretched together. Those who knew Sydney before hesitantly said hi while those who had never seen her before had one of two reactions: avoid her probably because scars and tattoos were scary and bizarre to this clean cut, mostly white area or think she was hot and try to hit on her. Maria and Tony kept their distance, eyeing Sydney with a mix of wariness and unease. A sense of protectiveness overtook me.

"They're looking at you," I told her.

She slung her bag over her shoulder as if unaffected by my words.

"Yeah, I know."